Film Production Agreement Template – Free Movie Contract

This film production agreement template is designed for independent filmmakers, production companies, film producers, directors, investors, content creators, and studios who need to establish the contractual terms for producing films, documentaries, short films, or video content. This template is adaptable for various jurisdictions and can be customized to comply with local entertainment law, intellectual property regulations, and union requirements such as SAG-AFTRA or Directors Guild of America (DGA) agreements.

This comprehensive agreement establishes the legal framework between production companies and clients, investors, co-producers, or distributors for creating filmed content from development through distribution. It covers essential provisions including project scope, script, and creative vision, production budget and financing arrangements, payment schedules and milestone deliverables, production timeline with pre-production, principal photography, and post-production phases, and crew and talent arrangements including above-the-line and below-the-line personnel. The template also addresses intellectual property rights and copyright ownership, producer credits and screen credits allocation, distribution rights across theatrical, streaming, television, and home video platforms, insurance requirements including errors and omissions coverage, force majeure provisions for production delays, and completion guarantees.

Ideal for narrative features, documentary films, web series, music videos, corporate videos, and branded content across all budget levels from micro-budget indie productions to commercial projects, this template protects all parties by defining creative control, financial obligations, ownership rights, and profit participation, ensuring clear expectations throughout the filmmaking process.